Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel has been banned for half a game after allegedly breaking NCAA rules over payments.

Manziel was accused of breaching amateurism rules having reportedly been paid to sign autographs, although the NCAA are thought to have accepted that this was not the case.

The reigning Heisman Trophy holder will still be forced to start the season on the bench, but the ban is not as bad as it could have been with Texas A&M reportedly fearing that they could be without their star asset for much of the season.